Judaism, Christianity and Islam are sometimes categorised as “prophetic religions” since prominence is given to prophets who communicate God’s word to humankind at crucial times. Prophet Elijah is significant for Jews, Mohammed is Allah’s “seal of the prophets” for Muslims and John the Baptist — whose martyrdom is commemorated on August 29 — is central to Christianity. “Prophet” stems from the Greek prophetes, made up of the root phé, meaning “to proclaim” and the prefix pro, meaning “in advance”. Thus, one who “foretells”. The Hebrew equivalent nãbi, meaning “to call” or “proclaim”, has both active and passive nuances underpinning the belief that God calls the prophet and the prophet feels called by God. Thus, prophets are considered as the “mouth of God” (Jeremiah 15:19). Convinced that he is called and commissioned by God to announce the good tidings of Jesus’ work and to denounce sin and evil, John the Baptiser calls for personal conversion and societal transformation: “Repent! Bear fruit that will last... He who has two coats, let him share with him who has none... Don’t collect extra taxes... Rob no one by violence... Or, you will perish.” John’s fiery prophetism is fettered when he criticises the lustful King Herod, who unlawfully weds Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. Infuriated, Herodias orders John’s imprisonment. And she seeks revenge on Herod’s birthday. Her daughter’s dance so pleases the inebriated Herod that he promises her: “Ask whatever you will, and I’ll give it to you!” Instigated by Herodias, the girl replies, “Give me the head of John on a platter!” (Mark 6:14-29). Before his death, when asked by his disciples whether he is Christ, God’s anointed one, John confesses: “I am not Christ, but I’ve been sent before him... He (Jesus Christ) must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:28-30). After John’s death, Jesus continues and completes what John began. The beheading of John the Baptist reminds us of many prophets and prophetesses who quite literally “stick their necks out” in fighting evil and injustice. Fifty years ago, on August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous “I have a dream...” speech that demolished the demon of racism. Gandhiji dreamt of an “India of my dreams” that’s still to be realised. Is it possible that we have too many priests and too few prophets, today I think that God continuously calls men and women to be prophets and prophetesses. Do you sometimes strongly sense the inner impulse to fight corruption and injustice That could be the inner voice that can transform the world even if, like John the Baptist, Gandhiji or Martin Luther King Jr., it demands “martyrdom”.
Francis Gonsalves is a professor of theology. He can be contacted at fragons@gmail.com
